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Curt Fitzpatrick, the head coach of Cortland, has taken the head coaching job at Division I FCS Colgate. Fitzpatrick confirmed multiple reports when he updated his bio on X.
Fitzpatrick compiled a record of 45-5 at Cortland and was 35-38 overall in seven seasons at Morrisville State. At Colgate, he replaces Stan Dakosty, who was head coach for four seasons. The Raiders were 2-10 this past season and had one winning record in his four seasons.
“We thank Curt for what he’s done for Cortland football in his five years here,” said Cortland athletic director Mike Urtz. “We want to wish him success in his next role. We are now excited to move forward with our next chapter of Cortland football. We will begin a national search immediately.”
Current defensive coordinator Steve Cushing will serve as the Red Dragons’ interim head coach while the search for Fitzpatrick’s successor is conducted.
In five years at Cortland (four seasons on the field), Fitzpatrick posted a combined record of 45-5 (.900), highlighted by a 14-1 season and a storybook run to the 2023 NCAA Division III title. That season Fitzpatrick was named both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the D3football.com Division III National Coach of the Year, and the AFCA Region 1 and D3football.com Region 2 Coach of the Year, and he repeated as AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2024 after guiding the Red Dragons to an 11-1 record and the third round of the NCAA playoffs to tie for ninth place nationally. Cortland won a school-record 23 straight games spanning the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Fitzpatrick led Cortland to four Empire 8 titles from 2021-24, each with an undefeated record. He and his assistants were named the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year in each of those four seasons.
In his first season of action at Cortland in 2021, Fitzpatrick led the Red Dragons to a 10-0 regular season along with an NCAA playoff win before closing the year 11-1. In 2022, Cortland won its first nine games and ended the year 9-2 after a loss in the NCAA opening round.
Fitzpatrick previously served as head coach at Morrisville for seven seasons from 2013-19 and guided the Mustangs to four winning seasons and three postseason ECAC bowl games. He served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Utica College from 2008-12.
“I'd like to thank SUNY Cortland President Erik Bitterbaum and Director of Athletics Mike Urtz for the opportunity to lead the Cortland football program,” Fitzpatrick said. “Leaving a place that you love is not easy, and that is because of the people who make it special. To our players and coaches - thank you for your dedication and commitment. Your pursuit of excellence led Cortland Football to heights never before achieved, and I believe more great things are on the horizon for Red Dragon Football. My family and I will always hold a special place in our heart for our time shared in red and white."